Body Solder...The Truth?

[rip-cord]

Hey, I have been looking into getting a classic mustang to restore. I was looking at a 66 and the restoration was done back in the 80's. No rust which is rare in my neck of the woods but the owner said the body work was done with lead/ body solder instead of bondo. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Should the lead be removed just like bondo to do a proper restoration?

I am not sure how much is in the car, I will have to get it media blasted first to find out for sure.

Thanks

 

[WORTH]

Lead is whats used at the factory on the new car. If it is done properly it is much better than bondo, the only problems I have seen with it in the past is with paint cover. Not sure why but I have seen 2 different cars that had lead filler that the paint wouldn't go on smooth over the lead. Both of these were older restorations with far inferior primers and paint than we have today, so it may not be a problem anymore. I think I would use it if I had the talent.

on yours, look at the paint over the lead before you strip it and make your decision from there.

 

[geostang351]

Don't remove the lead with a sander as you'll make it air born. Melt it with a butyl torch.

 

[D.Hearne]

I'd prefer lead to bondo any day. Bondo cracks with age, lead is forever. Only toxic if it's in dust form where you could breathe it, and then only in large amounts would it be harmful.

 

[rip-cord]

So it sounds like if I wanted to strip the car and get it repainted then I can leave the lead just where it is.

 

[1320stang]

If it's a quality job, leave it. If it's covering a multitude of problems, remove it.

The reason the 50's Mercs were called lead sleds is because of the lack of any other type body filler. They did so many modifications to these cars and likely didn't have a lot of sheetmetal shaping experience so they just filled it in with lead. You could get away with an inch or two of lead, not so with bondo.

The proper use of lead is to fill seams, the seam between the quarter panel and roof line is filled with lead on our Mustangs from the factory. It's a lost art in most places.

 

[DarkoStoj]

if you were picky like me I'd remove all the lead

 

[thehueypilot]

If it's a quality job, leave it. If it's covering a multitude of problems, remove it.

It's a lost art in most places.

Very well said.....it is a lost art and a better long term repair than bondo.